Humidifier means

ABSTRACT

A humidifier installation which projects water in minute droplet form into the associated air stream duct, without prior evaporation of the water, and permitting all components except the discharge nozzle to be spaced away from the air duct and away from all the heated air, thus avoiding a main source of humidifier clogging and/or other inefficiency and ineffectiveness. Additional features include an adjustable means for getting liquid deodorant or disinfectant into the air stream which is used to draw the humidifying water into the duct; and the nozzle assembly, which achieves the flow of humidifying water under vacuum in response to flow of air through the nozzle assembly, provides a parallel arrangement of the air and water ducts into a downstream mixing chamber from which the humidifying water is discharged under pressure of that air into the air stream duct whose air is to be moistened or otherwise treated by the overall humidifier means. Other features add to the overall operativity, the overall housing of the humidifying unit being compartmentalized, achieving maximal separation of water, compressed air, and electrical features.

Umted States Patent [1 1 [111 3,776,215

Howard et a1. Dec. 4, 1973 HUMIDIFIER MEANS [57] ABSTRACT [76]Inventors: Arthur G. Howard; J h P, A humidifier installation whichprojects water in min- McHugh, both of Indianapolis, Ind. ute dropletfonn into the associated air stream duct, without prior evaporation ofthe water, and permitting [22] Fned' 1971 all components except thedischarge nozzle to be [21] Appl. No.: 194,191 spaced away from the airduct and away from all the [52] US. Cl 126/113, 261/116, 417/151 [51]Int. Cl. F24h 3/00 [58] Field of Search 126;] 13/; 417/151,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,640,266 2/ 1972 Ernest126/113 2,913,184 11/1959 Parlin 261/116 3,304,011 2/1967 Paasche..261/116 2,173,073 9/1939 Pierson 261/107 3,308,631 3/1967 Knifiin....62/353 Primary Examiner-William E. Wayner Assistant Examiner--William E.Tapolcai, Jr. Attorney-Robert A. Spray 'll/l heated air, thus avoiding amain source of humidifier clogging and/or other inefficiency andineffectiveness. Additional features include an adjustable means forgetting liquid deodorant or disinfectant into the air stream which isused to draw the humidifying water into the duct; and the nozzleassembly, which achieves the flow of humidifying water under vacuum inresponse to flow of air through the nozzle assembly, provides a parallelarrangement of the air and water ducts into a downstream mixing chamberfrom which the humidifying water is discharged under pressure of thatair into the air stream duct whose air is to be moistened or otherwisetreated by the overall humidifier means. Other features add to theoverall operativity, the overall housing of the humidifying unit beingcompartmentalized, achieving maximal separation of water, compressedair, and electrical features.

16 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEU DEC 4 i973 SHEET 2 CF 4 HUMIDIFIERMEANS This :inventionrelates to a humidifier means for providingmoisteningairin an associated air duct, typically .a duct of a heatingand/or air conditioning installation.

, upon the evaporation of humidifying water, and quite in contrast totypical prior art humidifiers which are (and have to be) mounted in suchclose proximity to the furnace ductwork (actually on the ductwork.) thatthe furnace air heat causes a precipitation of temporary hardness ionsinto a scale or clogging crust. The scale formed from such actionusually comes from the heating of water which this invention whollyavoids; for, the humidifier isspaced from the heated ductwork or furnaceplenum, and the humidifying water is at the relatively coldtemperatureof the associated water supply line.

This invention thus achieves an avoidance of the scale orevaporator-clogging which is a major cause of humidifier inefficiency;and in addition, the inventive concepts provide a positiveness andconsistent control of the amount of air-moistening water actuallygetting into the heated airstream. Installation is simplified andeconomical, requiring a cutting of the furnace ductwork only for theoutlet nozzle or nozzles. This is in contrast to typical humidifierinstallations which require large cut-ins of the furnace ductwork orplenum.

Another important concept is the provision of a selfcontained source ofair under pressure, which attains the drawing of the humidifying liquidinto the outlet components of the installation, avoiding any need of apressurized air supply utility or service line.

The concepts also provide a desired control and positiveness andconsistency in use, not only in discharging humidifying water underpressure rather than by evaporation, but by providing that the supply ofhumidifying liquid is automatically blocked unless the compressed aircomponent is operative to provide the air which provides the draw of thehumidifying liquid into and through the discharge outlet nozzle, and byproviding a complete and precise control of the quantity and flow rateof humidifying water, a water supply and control in which the continueduniformity of humidifying operation is quite generally independent ofeven wide fluc' tuations or variations of pressure in the water supplyline, city line pressure, well line pressure, etc.

The concepts further provide a distinct and definitecompartmentalization or general separateness of the water, compressedair, and electrical components, aiding in the leakproofness, safety, andactuation and repair characteristics of the overallinstallation. Forexample, a water leak does not affect the air supply components or theelectrical components, buc the water just runs out of the installationrelatively harmlessly.

The humidifying water, although supplied to the humidifier installationunder pressure, is moved to the discharge outlet by vacuum achieved asan incident to the movement of the aforementioned compressed air, andthis co-operates with the other features in achieving dependability andpositiveness of the installation. No stored water supply is needed; notanks, no floats, no full-tank shut-offs are needed. No water underpressure can flood out the associated deodorant and/or disinfectantsupply.

An adjustable means provides for the addition of a deodorant and/ordisinfectant'liquiid into the said com pressed air supply, for thenbeing carried into the discharged humidifying mist by that air ratherthan being dependent upon being admixed into the humidifying liquid.Even when a humidification effect is not desired, as for example duringthe humid summer months when the associated ductwork system is beingused to provide cool and de-humidified air, the disinfectant and/ordeodorant effect may be achieved without the introduction of any of thehumidifying moisture into the ductwork.

Thus, not only does this auxiliary feature add to the environmentalcontrol and betterment, providing clear, health-assisting and/orcurative atmosphere, but overcomes or eliminates the odor of lint in theduct and/or the smell usually characteristic of :many air conditioninginstallations; and all these features are attainable whether or not thehumidifying moisture is being attained, and the amount of the deodorantand/or disinfectant is easily and conveniently adjusted or metered. Andsupply cannisters of the deodorant and/or disinfectant liquid may beeasily replaced or interchanged, conveniently and without tools, evenwhile the unit is operating.

The nozzle itself provides the advantage of the waterdrawing air lineand the water line itself being generally parallel, and both directedgenerally toward the discharge outlet of the nozzle, the air and thewater coming into juxtaposition in a mixing chamber of the nozzle whichspans the outlet of both said lines.

These and other details, features, and advantages of the variouscontributive concepts of the overall invention will be more apparent inthe following more detailed description of an illustrative embodiment,considered with the accompanying somewhat schematic and diagrammaticdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the exterior of a humidifier means, a wallportion being shown as broken away to illustrate compartmentalizationconcepts;

FIG. 2 is an end view of an air inlet fitting for the humidifier meansshown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 being in considerably larger scale;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the air inlet fittingshown in FIG. 2, as taken generally as shown by Section line 3-3 of FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the water supply line which supplieshumidifying water to and through the humidifying means;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the electrical and actuation aircomponents of the humidifying means;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the nozzle means whichjoins the lines of the actuation air and the humidifying liquid, fordischarge of the humidifying liquid into the associated air ductwork,under pressure, and in the form of unheated minute droplet or mist form;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the nozzle shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top view of a supply means for disinfectant and/ordeodorizing liquid, this supply means being optionally used in place ofthe air inlet fitting shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the supply means shown inFIG. 8, this view being taken generally as shown by Section line 99 ofFIG. 8.

As shown in the drawings, the embodiment of a humidifier means 10illustrative of the inventive concepts is shown in FIG. 1 as including acasing 12 divided by a horizontal wall panel 14 and a vertical panel 16into separate and water-tight compartments, those being an upperelectrical compartment 1.8, and separate lower compartments respectivelya water compartment 20 and an air supply compartment 22.

FIG. 1 also indicates diagramatically the service lines comprising anelectric line 24 and a water supply line 25, an inlet opening 26 for theactuation air, and an outlet nozzle 28 which dispenses the humidifyingliquid into the associated ductwork or furnace plenum 29, in the form ofa mist 30 of minute droplets of the humidifying liquid, unheated, andwithout depending upon the evaporation of humidifying liquid by heat.The remoteness of the unit 10 from the ductwork and heat cooperates witha forced liquid feed to avoid clogging problems typical of prior arthumidifiers, and render installation more economical and convenient, asmentioned above.

The water circuitry is shown schematically in F IG. 4 as a pressurizedwater-supply line 32 which contains, in series a shut-off valve 34, anda strainer 36, and a pressure regulator 38 by which the supply linepressure is reduced to a low pressure, such as 5 p.s.i. pressure, agauge 40 being shown as tapping onto line 32 by a line 42; and the line32 continues under pressure through a solenoid control valve 44(energized or controlled by means yet to be described) to a meteringvalve 46 (desirably a 1 adjustable type of needle valve). This providesprecise and continuously consistent control of humidifying water, guideindependent of supply line pressure and variations thereof.

Downstream of the metering valve 46, the water supply line 32v is undersub-atmospheric pressure, that is a vacuum, due to the combined effectof the relatively large expansion of the conduit area on the downstreamside of the metering valve 46 and the sub-atmospheric pressure in thedownstream water line 48 which has a vacuum-breaking inlet check valve50 (ball-check type, for example) at its lower end, its upper end goingto the vacuum-pulling nozzle 28 mentioned above. (The construction andvacuum-pulling pump operativity of that nozzle 28 is detailed below.)

In the water line 48, there is shown a water conditioning unit 52,preferably of replaceable type, and containing ion-exchange resins, forremoving certain water-carried substances such as mineral deposits,which might otherwise precipitate in the air stream and form a build-upof scale-like substance or so-called white dust.

By the water circuitry 32-48 as detailed above, the humidifying water issupplied to the pump or outlet nozzle 28 under control and actuation byair and electrical components still to be described; and all thewater-supply components shown in FIG. 4, except its upstream shutoffvalve 34 and the portion 48' of water outlet line 48 outwardly of theunit 10, are contained in the water compartment 20 of the casing 12.

As shown in FIG. 5, water control is by the electrical and actuation aircomponents, and by their interrelationships, now more fully describedand explained.

FIG. 5 illustrates the electrical control circuitry as including asupply inlet 58 energized by a supply line 60 desirably connected inparallel to the heating blower and/or air conditioning blower 62,providing energization of the humidifying means 10 whenever either ofthose blowers are actuated. (However, as shown below, other controlfeatures prevent humidifying or other operation of the humidifying means10 under certain situations even though the furnace blower or airconditioner blower is energized.)

One line 64 is shown leading from one side of the electrical supply plugor fitting 58 to one inlet terminal of a step-down 1 10:6 voltpreferably) transformer 66; and another line 68 leads from the otherside of plug 58 (through a fuse 70) to the other inlet terminal of thattransformer 66.

The outlet terminals of that transformer 66 are respectively connectedby a line 72 to one terminal of a relay 74, and by a line 76 to oneterminal of a control switch 78. The other terminals of these areconnected by lines 80 and 82, respectively, to a humidistat plug 84 towhich is connected a humidistat 86; and thus the low-voltage circuitthrough the relay 74 is closed (energizing that relay 74) when both thecontrol switch 78 is closed, and the humidistat 86 is closed by alowness of room humidity.

(A pilot light 88 is shown connected by line 90 in parallel to the lowvoltage control circuit 72-80 of relay 74.)

With the relay 74 closed, the controlled circuit through the relay isclosed, that being shown as a circuit line 92-connected from one of theinlet power lines 64 and leading to the air compressor 94, the otherterminal of the air compressor 94 being connected through a line 96 tothe other inlet power line 68.

Thus the air compressor 94 (which as explained below provides controland operativity of the humidifying water supply) is actuated when switch78 and humidistat 86 are in closed condition, if either the furnace orair conditioner blower 52 is actuated.

The control circuit 92-96 of the air compressor 94 has parallel lines98-100 respectively connected with a solenoid 102 of solenoid valve 44which opens the water circuit 32 for humidifying water flow when the aircompressor 94 is actuated.

However, safety means are provided which prevent energization of thesolenoid 102 of solenoid valve 44, even when the air compressor 94 isactuated, unless pressurized air is actually being delivered from theair compressor 94; and that safety means is shown as apressure-regulated or mercontrol switch 104 inseries with the solenoidenergization circuit 98-100, the internal circuit of the mercontrol 104being such as that it is open unless air under pressure is supplied tothe control portion of that switch 104 from a control line 106 leadingfrom the outlet of the air compressor 94.

(Air inlet for the air compressor 94 is shown in FIG. 5 as by andthrough a deodorant and/or disinfectant supply means 110 described indetail below, through a nipple 111 which leads to the casing opening26.)

The air compressor 94 is self-contained in the humidifying means 10, andthe humidifier is thus independent of any external source of pressurizedair; and from the air compressor 94 leads an air line 112 to provide airunder pressure to the humidifier nozzle 28, providing the actuation airwhice draws the humidifying water by vacuum in water line 48. The aircompressor 94 is in the air compartment 22, and the solenoid valve 44 isin the water compartment but all the other. components of FIGS except asotherwise noted are located in the electrical compartment 18, achievingthe advantageous compartmentalization mentioned above.

FIG; 6 illustrates the nozzle means 28, which is the -means whichprovides water-pumping effect, that is,

the operative intersection and juxtaposition of the pres t surizedairstream in compressor outlet line 112 and the humidifying water outletline 48' of line 48. Nozzle 28 is remote from the casing 12, theremoteness contributing to the advantages described above; and thenozzle 28 is shown as having only its extreme outer end projecting intothe furnace ductwork 29.

r The nozzle 28 as shown as formed of an inlet body 114 and an outletbody 116,interconnected by screw threads 118 interengaging between adownstream- .facing head 120 of the inlet body 1 14 and anupstreamfacing recess 122 of the outlet body 116. The outlet body 116 isshown having outer screw threads 123 which screw into a face-plate orbracket piece 123a screwed or riveted to the ductwork or plenum 29. Onlya small opening 123b need have been provided in the sheeting 29.

The inlet body 114 of nozzle 28 is provided with two inlets 124 and 126,threaded, and respectively for receiving endfittings (not shown) of theportions of outlet airline 112 and the outlet water line 48' exteriorlyof the casing 12. These inlets 124 and 126 are respectively providedwith passages 128 and 130, internally of the body member 114; and itwill be particularly noted that the downstream end-portions of thosepassages 128-130 are parallel, they both extending fully to the extremedownstream end of the body member head 120 and there communicating withthe interior of the recess 122 of outlet body 116. The terminal portionof r the air passage 128 is generally co-axial with head 120 and recess122.

The nozzle outlet body 116 is provided with a central outlet passage 132communicating with the recess 122; and the operation of the nozzle 28 issuch that the passage of air through the airpassage 128 into therelatively large zone of the recess 122, and the consequent expansion ofthe air stream, is operative to induce a water-drawing vacuum in thewater passage 130 which opens into the chamber provided by the bodyrecess Thedischarge of the humidifying water from nozzle 28 is in theform of a mist of minute droplets which thereupon evaporate and moistenthe airstream in the associated ductwork whose air is to be humidified;

however, as pointed out above, the evaporation is not themeans ofgetting the humidifying water into the associated ductwork, as in thecase with other humidifiers with the pressurized air concepts by whichthe humidifying water is drawn to and through the humidifier 10,provides that the installation also provides a deodorant and/ordisinfectant to the associated air stream duct,

and provides this effect whether or not the unit 10 is being used alsoas a humidifier. Other advantages includethe fact that it is mountableon the humidifier remote from the heat and often-awkward accessibilityof the furnace plenum and ductwork; and quite in contrast to beingpressurized, it delivers'its liquid by a vacuum action incident to thesupply of air to the air compressor 94. Other advantages are mentionedherein.

The deodorant and/or disinfectant supply means is shown as including ahead member 136 from which depends a liquid supply cannister body 138,screw threads 140 at the top of the cannister 138 maintaining itassembled onto the head 136. A supply of deodorant and/or disinfectantliquid 142 is shown in the cannister The head 136 is provided with twoopenings 144 and 146, the opening 146 being shown centrally of thereceiving threads 140 for the cannister 138, and the other opening 144being a bypass opening shown at an offset location only slightly spacedfrom those threads; and

the opening 144 is intersected by an outlet opening or passage 148 whichexits from the head 136 in a screwthreaded portion 150 which receivesthe air nipple 111 of casing-opening 26 which admits air to the aircompression 94.

Atop the head 136 there is shown a movable cap or plate 152, movablypinned thereto by pin 154, and with a manipulating lug 156. The pin 154is located on head 136 such that the cap or plate 152, when selectivelymoved as by its lug 156, covers one or the other of the head openings144446 (or portions of both) thus selectively permitting air to enterthrough either one or partially from both of the openings 144-146.

The air which enters via the opening 144, when it is uncovered, goesdirectly into the passage 148, bypassing the cannister 138.

The air, however, which enters via the opening 146, does not go directto the outlet passage 148, but instead enters into the fluid cannister138 at its upper endportion 158; and, prior to entering the lowerportion of opening 144 and thence into the outlet passage 148,

that air must pass outwardly through the perforate or wick-like wall ofa sleeve 160.

The sleeve 160 is shown as supported to the under side of the cannistersupport head 136 by head bolts 162 which pass through holes in aring-shaped holding piece 164 which bears against out-turnedend-portions of the sleeve 160; and the sleeve 160 extends down asubstantial way into the cannister body 138, its mesh wall serving as asoaking wick.

Thus the air entering the chamber 158. (through opening 146) is forcedto encounter the liquid deodorant or disinfectant 142. Moreover, thisair eventually being the air dispensed out into the ductwork by theductwork humidifier nozzle 28 (by the airs passage through components158, lower portion of 144, 150, 111, 26, 94, 112, 124, 128, 122, and132), the deodorant and/or disinfectant effect is achievable even thoughthe humidifying liquid is not being supplied to the outlet nozzle 28.

Thus deodorant and/or disinfectant advantage is easily achieved whetheror not the unit is being utilized to also attain humidifying effect; andthe movement of the cap-plate 152 permits adjustable control of theamount of deodorant and/or disinfectant, with or without humidification.

In installations where no deodorant/disinfectant utilization is desired,an inlet fitting 168 (FIGS. 2 and 3) may be provided, as shown, it hasan outlet passage 170 tapped with screw threads 172 adapted (likethreads 150 of supply means 110) to be screwed to the nipple l 11. Theentrance portion of the fitting 168 is provided with a recess 174, intowhich is fitted a removable and cleanable inlet mesh or filter screen176, held in the recess 174 by a spring clip 178; and it will beapparent that air passing through the screen 176 passes through chamber174 and passage 170 to the nipple 1 11 for admission into the air inlet26 of the air compartment of the housing 12.

It is thus seen that a humidifying means 10 according to the presentinventive concepts provides a desirable and advantageous humidifyingmeans, of compartmentalized construction, optionally with or without theextra advantages of a deodorant and/or disinfectant effect, drawinghumidifying water in a vaccum line for a forced spray or mist, andavoiding the prior requirement of evaporation off an evaporator element.Pressure variations of the incoming water line are made of negligibleeffect. The nozzle itself provides advantages of a parallelism of outletconduits.

Accordingly, it will thus be seen from the foregoing description of thisillustrative embodiment, considered with the accompanying drawings, thatthe present invention provides a new and useful humidifying means, thedevice having desired advantages and characteristics, and accomplishingits intended objects, including those hereinbefore pointed out andothers which are inherent in the invention.

Modifications and variations may be effected without departing from thenovel concepts of the invention; accordingly, the invention is notlimited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described orshown.

What is claimed is:

l. A humidifying means for a warm air furnace installation havingductwork through which flows the air to be moistened by the humidifyingmeans, comprising:

a pump means which draws liquid by the passage therethrough of air underpressure;

a source of air under pressure and leading to said pump means;

a line supplying humidifying liquid to the pump means;

the discharge of the pump means being operatively into the saidductwork, and the pump means being operative to effect such discharge byexerting a sub-atmospheric pressure into the said humidifying liquidline;

and in which upstream of the inlet of air to said humidifying meansthere is provided a source of conditioning or treating liquid, withmeans being provided to cause the incoming air to encounter said liquidand thereby condition or treat said air;

and in which the source of conditioning or treating liquid is acontainer means, and there is a perforate wick means associatedtherewith and extending to a relatively low position therein so as todip into a supply of the conditioning or treating liquid therein, andair passage means provde that air being drawn into the inlet of thehumidifying means must operatively pass through said wick means.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in a combination in which meansare provided which block the flow of humidifying liquid in said lineunless said air compressor means is delivering air under pressure tosaid pump means.

3. A humidifying means for a warm air furnace installation havingductwork through which flows the air to be moistened by the humidifyingmeans, comprising:

a pump means which draws liquid by the passage therethrough of air underpressure;

a source of air under pressure and leading to said pump means;

a line supplying humidifying liquid to the pump means;

the discharge of the pump means being operatively into the saidductwork, and the pump means being operative to effect such discharge byexerting a sub-atmospheric pressure into the said humidifying liquidline;

and in which upstream of the inlet of air to said humidifying meansthere is provided a source of con ditioning or treating liquid, withmeans being provided to cause the incoming air to encounter said liquidand thereby condition or treat said air;

in a combination in which the inlet to the said humidifying means isprovided with an inlet passage which permits a bypassing of the saidliquid, and there are control means to selectively block said bypassinlet passage and of said means which cause said incoming air toencounter said conditioning or treating liquid.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 3 in a combination in which thehumidifying means includes an air compressor means self-contained withinthe humidifying means.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 3 in a combination in which meansare provided which block the flow of humidifying liquid in said lineunless said air under pressure is being delivered to said pump means.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 3 in a combination in which thehumidifying means includes an air compressor means self-contained withinthe humidifying means;

in which the said source of conditioning or treating liquid is not underpressure but is operatively admixed into the air by the drawing of theinlet side of the air compressor means in contrast to the atmosphericpressure upstream of said source of conditioning or treating liquid.

7. The invention as set forth in claim 3 in a combination in which thesaid air conditioning or air treating is achieved regardless of whetherhumidifying liquid is being supplied to said pump means.

8. The invention as set forth in claim 6 in a combination in which thesource of conditioning or treating liquid is a container means removablysecured to the inlet side of the air compressor means.

9. The invention as set forth in claim 3 in a combination in which thesource of conditioning or treating liquid is a container means, andthere is a perforate with means associated therewith and extending to arelatively low position therein so as to dip into a supply of theconditioning or treating liquid therein, and air passage means providethat air being drawn into the inlet of the air compressor means mustoperatively pass through said wick means.

10. The invention as set forth in claim 3 in a combination in which thecontrol means not only selectively block said bypass and saidencounter-causing means but selectively block partially either, toprovide more selected varition in the conditioning or treating effectattained by the incoming air.

11. The invention as set forth in claim 3 in a combination in which thehumidifying means is mounted in a spaced location away from the saidductwork, and there is an outlet line means leading from the saidhumidifying means to the discharge outlet which dis charges into saidductwork.

12. The invention as set forth in claim 11 in a combination in whichdischarge outlet is an assembly which is the pump means itself.

13. The invention as set forth in claim 12 in a combination in which thepump means is provided by an assembly of an inlet body and an outletbody, the inlet body provided with generally parallel passages in itsdownstream end portion which both communicate with an upstream-facingrecess provided in said outlet body,

that recess providing an expansion chamber for air being delivered tosaid pump means and thus providing that a vacuum will be induced in saidwater supply line.

14. The invention as set forth in claim 3 in a combination in whichmeans are provided for controlling the rate of flow of water to the saidliquid supply line.

15. The invention as set forth in claim 3 in a combination in whichmeans are provided for controlling the pressure of water upstream of thesaid liquid supply line.

16. The invetnion as set forth in claim 3 in a combination in whichthere are electric means for energizing the source of air under pressureand for controlling the flow of water in said water supply line, andthere are wall means in said humidifier means which generally separateor compartmentalize the: electric means the air supply, and the watersupply.

UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 77 5Dated December 73 Inventor) Arthur (I. noward, et al.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 62, "buc" should read out Column 3, line 2'], after"series insert a comma;

line 3'], "guide" should read quite Column 1;, line 67. "whice shouldread which --'i Claim 1, column 7, line 65, the period should be oh"aged to a semi-colon and insert the following at the end of claim 1 ina combination in which said wick means is provided as a sleeve, one endof which is operatively closed except by a passage through which saidincoming air flow s, I thereby assuring that the incoming air alsopasses through the sleeve walls.

Claim 9, column 8, line 5'8, "with" should read wick Claim 10, column 9,line 2, "varition" should read variation I Claim 15, column 10, line 11,"invetnion" should read invention Signed and sealed this 30th day ofApril'lfll' (SEAL) Attest:

13 WAPD PLFLETCHEELJR. i 0. VIARSHALL DANi-I Attesting OfficerCommissioner of Patent FORM PO-1050 (10-69) UscoMM-DC c0315.

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 5 IQ! O-JU'fJ

1. A humidifying means for a warm air furnace installation havingductwork through which flows the air to be moistened by the humidifyingmeans, comprising: a pump means which draws liquid by the passagetherethrough of air under pressure; a source of air under pressure andleading to said pump means; a line supplying humidifying liquid to thepump means; the discharge of the pump means being operatively into thesaid ductwork, and the pump means being operative to effect suchdischarge by exerting a sub-atmospheric pressure into the saidhumidifying liquid line; and in which upstream of the inlet of air tosaid humidifying means there is provided a source of conditioning ortreating liquid, with means being provided to cause the incoming air toencounter said liquid and thereby condition or treat said air; and inwhich the source of conditioning or treating liquid is a containermeans, and there is a perforate wick means associated therewith andextending to a relatively low position therein so as to dip into asupply of the conditioning or treating liquid therein, and air passagemeans provde that air being drawn into the inlet of the humidifyingmeans must operatively pass through said wick means.
 2. The invention asset forth in claim 1 in a combination in which means are provided whichblock the flow of humidifying liquid in said line unless said aircompressor means is delivering air under pressure to said pump means. 3.A humidifying means for a warm air furnace installation having ductworkthrough which flows the air to be moistened by the humidifying means,comprising: a pump means which draws liquid by the passage therethroughof air under pressure; a source of air under pressure and leading tosaid pump means; a line supplying humidifying liquid to the pump means;the discharge of the pump means being operatively into the saidductwork, and the pump means being operative to effect such discharge byexerting a sub-atmospheric pressure into the said humidifying liquidline; and in which upstream of the inlet of air to said humidifyingmeans there is provided a source of conditioning or treating liquid,with means being provided to cause the incoming air to encounter saidliquid and thereby condition or treat said air; in a combination inwhich the inlet to the said humidifying means is provided with an inletpassage which permits a bypassing of the said liquid, and there arecontrol means to selectively block said bypass inlet passage and of saidmeans which cause said incoming air to encounter said conditioning ortreating liquid.
 4. The invention as set forth in claim 3 in acombination in which the humidifying means includes an air compressormeans self-contained within the humidifying means.
 5. The invention asset forth in claim 3 in a combination in which means are provided whichblock the flow of humidifying liquid in said line unless said air underpressure is being delivered to said pump means.
 6. The invention as setforth in claim 3 in a combination in which the humidifying meansincludes an air compressor means self-contained within the humidifyingmeans; in which the said source of conditioning or treating liquid isnot under pressure but is operatively admixed into the air by thedrawing of the inlet side of the air compressor means in contrast to theatmospheric pressure upstream of said source of conditioning or treatingliquid.
 7. The invention as set forth in claim 3 in a combination inwhich the said air conditioning or air treating is achieved regardlessof whether humidifying liquid is being supplied to said pump means. 8.The invention as set forth in claim 6 in a combination in which thesource of conditioning or treating liquid is a container means removablysecured to the inlet side of the air compressor means.
 9. The inventionas set forth in claim 3 in a combination in which the source ofconditioning or treating liquid is a container means, and there is aperforate with means associated therewith and extending to a relativelylow position therein so as to dip into a supply of the conditioning ortreating liquid therein, and air passage means provide that air beingdrawn into the inlet of the air compressor means must operatively passthrough said wick means.
 10. The invention as set forth in claim 3 in acombination in which the control means not only selectively block saidbypass and said encounter-causing means but selectively block partiallyeither, to provide more selected varition in the conditioning ortreating effect attained by the incoming air.
 11. The invention as setforth in claim 3 in a combination in which the humidifying means ismounted in a spaced location away from the said ductwork, and there isan outlet line means leading from the said humidifying means to thedischarge outlet which discharges into said ductwork.
 12. The inventionas set forth in claim 11 in a combination in which discharge outlet isan assembly which is the pump means itself.
 13. The invention as setforth in claim 12 in a combination in which the pump means is providedby an assembly of an inlet body and an outlet body, the inlet bodyprovided with generally parallel passages in its downstream end portionwhich both communicate with an upstream-facing recess provided in saidoutlet body, that recess providing an expansion chamber for air beingdelivered to said pump means and thus providing that a vacuum will beinduced in said water supply line.
 14. The invention as set forth inclaim 3 in a combination in which means are provided for controlling therate of flow of water to the said liquid supply line.
 15. The inventionas set forth in claim 3 in a combination in which means are provided forcontrolling the pressure of water upstream of the said liquid supplyline.
 16. The invetnion as set forth in claim 3 in a combination inwhich there are electric means for energizing the source of air underpressure and for controlling the flow of water in said water supplyline, and there are wall means in said humidifier means which generallyseparate or compartmentalize the electric means, the air supply, and thewater supply.